Veterans Day has special meaning at one Collier elementary school

NAPLES - As a Collier County student, there is probably no better place to celebrate Veterans Day than at the school that honors those who have served every single day.

Veterans Memorial Elementary School celebrated not only Veterans Day, but its own special anniversary Tuesday morning with a ceremony in the school's courtyard.

"This is an exciting day at Veterans Memorial Elementary School," said Principal Tim Ferguson. "Today, we celebrate the one-year dedication of our school. Our school was given a very special name to honor the veterans."

The program began with a flag processional, the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of "The Star Spangled Banner." Students, dressed in the school colors of red, white and blue, sang loudly while waving American flags.

Music teacher Susan Daye asked kindergarten/first grade teacher Destiny Miner to come to the microphone. Miner addressed the crowd in her blue Air Force uniform. She told the students, teachers and parents assembled in the courtyard that she is in the Air Force Reserve and has served for 16.5 years.

Miner said Veterans Day gives her an opportunity to feel proud of what she does.

"I am proud of my call of duty," she said. "Being in the service is being a part of a group of people from all over the world that come together for a common purpose."

Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, also spoke to the students about the importance of Veterans Day. He told the students that Veterans Day was once referred to as Armistice Day, which celebrated the end of World War I at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918.

Richter, whose daughter is a teacher at Veterans Memorial Elementary School, said Veterans Day is different than Memorial Day because Memorial Day honors the men and women who gave their lives for their country.

"On Veterans Day, we honor everyone who wears or who has worn that uniform," he said.

He asked the students to thank veterans for their service.

After Richter spoke, students sang "Oh, I Love America" and "You Are Our Heroes." Students from Stephanie Jonas' class read poems chosen especially for the day.

At the close of the program, Assistant Principal Christopher Marker told the students about his father, a Korean War veteran. He told his students that, to his father, the thank you for his service was better than happy birthday.

"It is a special thing for you boys and girls to say thank you to these men and women who have fought to protect you," he said.

Army veteran Bill Whelan, who attended the program at the insistence of his granddaughter — fifth-grader Delaney Phillips — said it was "very unexpected."

"It was great," he said. "I think it is important for (the students) to know that people came before them. It is important to know that this is not just what they read in books. There are people who were there."

Fifth-grader Alexis Cavalier understood. She said she knew just what she would say to a veteran Tuesday.